Taoiseach Enda Kenny had said it is important any allegations of bugging at the Garda Ombudsman Commission are laid bare for public examination.

Mr Kenny voiced concern at the claims the Garda watchdog last year hired a British security consultancy to investigate whether its headquarters in Abbey Street, Dublin, and internal communications system, were being secretly monitored.

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is responsible for receiving and dealing with all complaints made by members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the force.

Mr Kenny also questioned why the GSOC had not informed Justice Minister Alan Shatter when it first became aware that espionage was suspected - noting that the office was law-bound to report unusual or exceptionally important matters to the minister.

"It is very important that the details of what transpired here be made available to the minister for public analysis and for reporting to the cabinet tomorrow," he said.

The Taoiseach told RTE: "I think it is important that we should understand on what grounds suspicions were determined in the first instance, who determined those suspicions, did the board discuss this and make arrangements for a company to assess whether or not interference in the communications system was had."

Mr Shatter met with commission chairman Simon O'Brien this afternoon, having asked for a report on the issue.

He is due to brief his cabinet colleagues on the episode tomorrow.

Earlier Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte described the claims as "sinister".

"Given the official role of the Garda Ombudsman and its supervision of the Garda Siochana, it is somewhat sinister if what transpired actually did happen," he said.

"But I don't think we should jump to conclusions until we get the report from the Minister of Justice."